In general what u can do 2 reduce redundancy is: messages > menu > options > general options > sms & email inboxes > combined. Folder for sms will no longer display (reversible BTW). U can also put any icon in folder &/or hide (hilite icon > menu > check hide). As well u can use: phone > menu > options > call logging > show these call log types in message list > missed calls or none.
I'm not sure about other carriers but as soon as I upgraded to a BB (it never did it for me on dumbphones and number of Treos), Verizon started sending me a text message every time I received a voicemail. They send me a text message that tells me how many new messages I have and how many urgent messages I have. I called Verizon telling them that I don't want this feature but they said they can't remove it but it's a free text.